Page 8 of A Descent Into Darkness

I shook my head, dispersing the cascade of feelings running amuck in my mind.

“Shakespeare?” I grumbled, clearing my throat.

“The Bible isn’t the only suitable reading material for a woman,” she retorted.

“I take it you were due for your pound of flesh then?” I asked, but she turned away from me as though she intended to end our conversation. She was a vision in the candlelight. The flames highlighting her high cheekbones and straight nose. Her hair was illuminated, a glowing halo surrounding her. I knew I had to do something. If she was truly a witch, she was weaving a captivating spell over my heart, and I was desperate to find a way to save her.

“And here I was, thinking I had the privilege of encountering a real witch. But in reality, you’re nothing more than a simple, jaded woman,” I said dismissively. Pushing her buttons seemed to be the only way to get her to engage.

This obviously hit a nerve, because she turned her narrowed gaze at me and rose to her feet.

“I am a lot of things, Mr. James. But one thing I assuredly am not is a simple woman.” She closed the space between us, and my mouth went dry as she approached. “There are no ‘simple’ women. We all have our tragedy to tell. Mine is of a girl with a secret gift, one that was hidden away, protected—cherished. Until your God had other plans for her. Now, I am an abomination, a freak, a demon, and any number of horrible things. Anything but a young woman alone in an evil world.”

She reached out, softly running her fingertips over the back of my hand. I froze. The feel of her soft touch sent shivers over my entire body. Her fingertips settled on my wrist at my pulse point. I could feel my heartbeat pounding away under her touch and then her eyes rolled back in her head. I stared, entranced in the moment. I should have been concerned for her health. I should have called for help. But I was the one who felt vulnerable. I couldn’t pinpoint what was happening, but I knew my soul was laid bare for her. She was being shown things that only the Divine could know.

The moment her eyes popped open, she tore her hand away from me. A flicker of curiosity was quickly replaced by fear.

“Whoareyou?” she breathed, her chest heaving as she backed away from me.

“You have the sight,” I whispered. It was only a guess, but I could see the truth of it flicker in her eyes. “What did you see?”

Our conversation was interrupted by the sound of heavy boots entering the cell block. In the next instant, Teach’s imposing figure blotted out the candlelight. He was shrouded in darkness, but I could almost imagine the scowl on his face.

“Captain… I, umm… I…” My words trailed off. I had no excuseto offer, and I knew lying to him now would only make my situation worse.

“I’m waiting, James,” he said. The calm authority in his voice made me cringe.

“Waiting for you to give me something, anything resembling a reasonable excuse for defying my orders.” His voice rose as he continued.

“I didn’t defy you, Captain.”

I jumped when his fists collided with the iron bars, the entire cage shaking with the force of it. “You would dare lie to me! And to my face, no less! I bring you on, raise you to a place of privilege among my men and not two days past you’ve already fucked up. Tell me, was I wrong, James? Did I make an error when I chose you as my bo’sun?”

“No, Captain. My sincere apologies. I finished my work, did your bidding. I only looked into the girl on my own time.” I held my hands up, placating him as best I could. My only chance at escaping his wrath was to offer him something of value. “And it wasn’t in vain. The girl… she can be useful to us.”

Teach’s full bellied laugh reverberated off the cages. “I have no need of a girl, even one so pretty. They are a dime a dozen, my boy. You’ll figure that out in time. Never, ever let a pretty face sway your heart. Now get your drunk ass out of that cell.” He produced a key, unlocking my cell and pushing the rusted door open. “I’ve pulled in some favors to get you out. And you will pay me back for them, with interest,” he said as he turned to leave.

“But, Captain, listen to me. She has the sight. We could use her. I know you’ve been searching for something. I don’t know what it is yet, but maybe she can help.” I felt desperate, pleading my case to a hard man who wasn’t easily swayed. He stopped then, appraising me with new eyes.

“You’re more perceptive than I gave you credit for,” he mused as he stroked his black beard. I took his moment of contemplation and pushed.

“She had a vision when she touched me just now.”

“Is that true, witch?” he barked at her, shifting his intimidating gaze to Katherine, who was crouched at the back corner of her cell.

“I’m not a witch,” she argued, and I winced. Her flippant mouth wouldn’t get her very far with Teach. The damn woman had no concern when it came to her own self-preservation. “But he tells the truth. I’ve had visions.”

“If that’s so, then tell me something I don’t already know, and just maybe you’ll save yourself from a fiery demise,” Teach challenged.

Katherine approached the iron bar separating her from Teach’s imposing figure. I couldn’t see her face, but her hesitation was well warranted. Teach was equally as lethal as the pyre that already had her name on it. She was bartering with the devil. Possibly selling her soul for an alternative darkness. Sometimes it was easier to accept a path of obscurity than welcome the evil you knew was coming for you.

She placed her hands tentatively on Teaches, connectingwith his pulse point until her head dropped back. Teach’s eyes flashed with excitement, a grin pulling at his lips. When her eyes popped open, Teach shifted, catching her wrist in his iron grip.

“Tell me, sweetness, what did you see?” She peered over at me, her green eyes thoughtful for a moment before she leaned into him, whispering her secrets. Irritation bubbled up from my gut. She’d seen things about me, too. Yet she kept that to herself. Maybe she had seen her salvation in Edward Teach’s future, but damned if I could curb the irrational pang of jealousy taking root in my chest.

“Time to go, James,” he said as he broke away from her, a satisfied look on his face.

“And what about the girl?”

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